The Australian Social Sector is made up of seven hundred thousand charitable organisations and makes an important contribution to the fabric of society. It fills gaps and reaches out to causes that need support, connecting them with others through giving.
As with all other sectors of our economy, Social Sector organisations need to work hard to be sustainable, thrive and continue to make a positive impact. Competition for the charity dollar is fierce and the operating environment of the sector is changing.
Now more than ever the Social Sector is in need of innovation.
While innovation may have been on the agendas of some Social Sector boards in the past, the imperative to innovate and change has never been greater. Why?
The 2016 Innovation Index is a study of the Social Sector’s current innovation capability. It is a major leading indicator of the capability of the sector to manage the challenges that lie ahead. Last year’s index is the outcome of a survey of more than 744 professionals working across the sector from every Australian state and territory. In 2015 the sector recorded an overall innovation score of 66 per cent from the index survey, indicating that while some organisations prioritise innovation in their day to day operations, there is significant scope for improvement across the sector.
In 2016, organisations will be measured according to their capacity to develop and deliver innovation according to seven key vectors:
The aims of the 2016 Innovation Index include:
As a thank-you for taking part in this survey, every participant will be sent a preview copy of the 2016 Innovation Index Report before its official release.
Every participant will also be sent persnal Innovation Index Scorecards for their organisation. These unique, customised reports offer valuable insights into the innovation performance within their organisation and how they compare with the industry as a whole.
Third Sector acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands where we live, learn and work. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging.